Slope is derived from gridded (10 m cell size) multibeam
bathymetry, collected aboard NOAA Ship Hiialaka'i and R/V AHI.
Cell values reflect the maximum rate of change (in degrees) in
elevation between neighboring cells derived with the ArcGIS
Spatial Analyst extension. This data set is for the shelf environment
of Farallon de Pajaros Island. CNMI and Guam slope maps are all
symbolized with the same classified color ramp (with the exception
of a unique maximum value) in order to provide a standard for
qualitative comparisons between islands.

Purpose:

The data were derived in support of NOAA Coral Reef Conservation
Program goals. Goal 1 is to map all U.S. Coral Reef Ecosystems.
This data set specifically addresses Objective 1 and 4: to develop
high-resolution benthic maps and to characterize priority deep
water reefs and associated habitats. This derivative of bathymetry
provides a GIS layer that may be used for benthic and essential fish
habitat characterization, and for the study of geologic features.
By combining the dataset with bathymetry, backscatter, other
derivatives, and in situ data, they collectively compose benthic
habitat maps which are designed to be used to understand and predict
moderate depth (~10m to 800m) benthic habitats for coral reef ecosystems.

Supplemental_Information:

Gridded multibeam data were collected aboard the Hi'ialakai, a 218'
United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) research ship, and aboard the R/V AHI (Acoustic Habitat
Investigator), a 25' survey launch owned and operated by the NOAA
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu, HI. The
metadata for the bathymetry is documented in the product metadata,
uracas_10m.txt. (<http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/pibhmc_cnmi_bathy.htm>)
The terrestrial elevation data shown in the map for this data set are a
United States Geological Survey Digital Elevation Models.

These data are not to be used for navigation purposes. Please acknowledge the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries
Science Center (PIFSC) Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) and
the Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center (PIBHMC), and
the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR)
as the sources of this information.

Data are collected for resource
management and research purposes and are tested for
internal consistency; however, no effort is made to compare
these data to external references or to other published data.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

These data are believed to be logically
consistent though no tests were performed

These data are not to be used for navigational purposes.
NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied,
nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors
or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of
these data to function on a particular system.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: Arc ASCII

Format_Information_Content:

Arc ASCII can be converted to Arc Raster
using ArcToolbox Conversion Tools (ASCIItoRaster).